Norwegian firm plans 33,000t land-based US salmon farm

Norway-based Nordic Aquafarms (NAF) plans to construct a 40-acre land-based Atlantic salmon farm in Belfast, Maine. It will have a 33,000-ton annual production capacity.

Between $450 to 500 million all-in total capital investments will be involved to complete the project, which will be implemented in several phases.

The first phase, with construction planned to start in 2019, will involve investments of up to $150 million. The facility will be an end-to-end operation, including hatcheries and fish processing. It will be the largest land-based facility project ever raised in one construction phase and house the largest aquaculture tanks in the world, the company claimed.

CEO Erik Heim said they are “stepping up investment in highly qualified people and international partnerships.”